The Good Die Young
“Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.” (Isaiah 57: 1 NLT)
A long lingering question many have pondered is why the young die. It is seldom asked, nevertheless it is often thought about.
We have a basic concept that life consists of a number of years. Not so. No one is guaranteed a specific number of years. Death lurks at the door of every day.
We find some consolation when death relieves one who is suffering from a disease or in their senior years. However, the conundrum regarding the death of the young longs for an answer.
If a child dies before reaching the age of accountability, that is when they can discern right and wrong, and have developed cognitive ability, they go to heaven, thanks to the virgin birth of Jesus. When He died on the cross, He died for our personal sins (He had none) and our old sin nature (born of a virgin He had no old sin nature). Thus the infant is in the express lane to heaven.
At this point the question often emerges regarding what age we will be in heaven. There is no time in eternity. Therefore, there is no age assigned to our new eternal nature. Our new nature will be new in every regard, needing no age.
No person, no person, dies before they have reached a permanent mind set regarding salvation. We humans can’t tell who has reached that point, but our all knowing God knows. From a perspective of eternity there is no reason for them to live. God knows they have reached a fixed mindset that will not change regardless of how long they live. Even then God in His wisdom and mercy allows many to live after that point.
Reflect again on the text regarding the death of the young.
This was written by Isaiah after the Babylonian exile, but while Israel was under oppression and many youths were being killed. However, it pertains to youth of all ages.
“Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.” (Isaiah 57: 1 NLT)
Think back to the time a loved one died and all the evil and difficulty that has happened since then that they have been spared. Think also of the joy they have experienced since death.
Some jump to the conclusion, like Job’s friends, that a young person dies because of sin, but that is not always true. This text speaks of the “godly who die.” Their death is simply God saying, “You have finished the work I gave you to do so come on home and get your reward.” Many may think of the future good they could do, but God knows His task for them is completed and He awaits them with a crown of glory.
Surely no one of us would want to call them back from that glorious place. Who would want to remove their crown of glory or pluck the palm of peace from the hand? Those who grieve over the death of a young person can find peace in considering their departure in this light.